It's easy to dream about starting a new business and going into it without having much cash on hand. But if that happens, do you know what kind of business you should choose? Or are there ways around this? Let us show you!
Most people who want to start their own businesses often go for something like food delivery services or ecommerce platforms. These two options offer many advantages over traditional brick-and-mortar stores when it comes to getting started. For one, they're usually less expensive than opening up shop yourself. Second, they allow customers to order anything at anytime, 24/7. And thirdly, most of them come with built-in marketing tools (like Facebook ads) to help you grow your audience quickly. So while these types of businesses might seem like obvious choices, we'll take a look at some other ones that could be just as good -- even better, depending on your goals!
If you've got nothing saved up and you'd rather not spend all of your savings on rent and bills, then maybe you should consider becoming an affiliate marketer instead. Affiliate marketers sell products and services through others' websites by promoting them through links or banners. They get paid only after someone buys something using those promotional materials. There are lots of different kinds of affiliates out there, so you may find that one works well for you. You also may end up making more sales than you thought possible.
Another option is to become a drop shipper. A drop shipper sells items directly from manufacturers and wholesalers to retailers. As long as you provide a product that fits within a retailer's needs, they will buy it from you. It doesn't matter whether you make it yourself or purchase it readymade. Either way, you won't need to put down any capital until you begin selling. If you decide to use Amazon as your marketplace, you can see which products would work well for them based on your niche and price points. Then set up your account with them, and let them handle everything else. Once the orders start coming in, you'll receive payment and ship your merchandise right away. The same goes for eBay sellers. While you won't receive payments immediately, you can keep track of the listings for each item you sold, so once you hit 50% mark of your goal, you can turn off your listing and focus on growing your customer base.
Finally, perhaps you're looking for another service provider business model. Maybe you already run an existing website or blog and would love to add additional income streams. Instead of advertising or charging subscriptions, you can try offering freelance content writing, web hosting, or graphic design. All of these services require minimal startup costs since you aren't paying employees yet. Plus, they allow you to scale up slowly, allowing you to build your brand before investing too heavily in inventory or storefronts. In fact, you can use sites like Upwork and Freelancer to hire freelancers to complete tasks such as social media posts, article creation, data entry, and website maintenance. Just remember to write clearly and concisely, because nobody wants to read a poorly written job description.
So far, we've been talking about starting a business with zero dollars, but what if you had $50 to invest? What are you willing to risk? How big of an investment do you think you can afford? Can you really pull off a project that requires thousands of dollars worth of equipment?
If you answered yes to both questions, check out our list of 10 profitable side hustles that cost under $100! Each of these ideas takes very little time and effort to execute, and they can generate significant profits every month. Some of the projects include creating your own clothing line, selling used books, and running a dog walking service.
Of course, none of these suggestions guarantee success. That depends largely upon your skill level, experience, and dedication. However, if you follow our tips above, you should be able to find something that suits your particular talents and interests. Now get working!
Starting a business isn't always about spending tons of money upfront. Sometimes, you can simply create a low-cost prototype first, test its viability, and see where things stand later on. Here are several DIY methods that anyone can implement to get their business up and running:
1. Create a logo and branding materials. Your company name, tagline, color palette, etc., should be consistent across your entire brand identity. To learn how to create custom logos and designs, check out the following resources:
2. Find free software programs that can automate certain parts of your workflow. When you're building your business, you probably won't have enough hours in the day to devote entirely to learning how to code or designing graphics. Luckily, there are plenty of open source applications available that can save you massive amounts of time! Check out some helpful apps below:
3. Set up a simple website template. Don't worry about hiring a developer to code everything from scratch. You can easily create a basic website without knowing HTML code or CSS. Most templates are completely customizable, so you can change colors, fonts, images, layout, and pretty much everything. Try GoDaddy or Squarespace, which are among the biggest names in the industry.
4. Buy a domain name. Domain names play a huge role in establishing authority and credibility for your site. Make sure that your URL includes keywords related to your niche, target audience, and overall message. Also, avoid using hyphens ("-"), spaces (" "), and numbers ("0").
5. Get started selling on Etsy. Etsy has grown tremendously since being founded in 2005. Today, it boasts millions of active users worldwide and continues to expand rapidly year after year. If you're interested in selling handmade goods, this platform offers incredible potential for growth.
6. Start blogging. Blogging allows you to share information and connect with readers in real-time. Not everyone knows how to code or design beautiful graphics, but almost everyone can post interesting articles daily on topics relevant to their niche. And if you can master SEO techniques, your blogs can achieve high rankings in search engines like Google and Bing. Read our full guide here to learn how to start a successful blog.
7. Sell digital downloads via ClickBank. If you prefer to stay hands-off, you can earn passive revenue by selling digital files via ClickBank. With this method, you get to charge whatever rates you wish and leave it up to buyers to determine value. Learn how to start a successful ClickBank store in our tutorial.
8. Join groups. Groups are a powerful tool for networking with likeminded individuals who share similar passions and interests. Joining forums, discussion boards, LinkedIn groups, and Twitter communities can lead to valuable connections and opportunities for collaboration.
9. Sign up for affiliate programs. One of the fastest ways to ramp up your sales volume is to sign up for affiliate programs. These partnerships allow you to link to specific merchants and promote their products and services. Many companies offer incentives to bring more traffic to their pages.
10. Use social media to boost visibility. Social media plays a crucial part in the modern age of marketing. By signing up for accounts like Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, Reddit, Snapchat, and more, you can gain instant exposure for your business. Remember though, it's important to engage with followers regularly. Otherwise, nobody will notice you.
The answer to this question varies greatly depending on what you envision your future business to be. If you're thinking of launching your own fashion label, photography studio, or catering business, chances are you'll need large amounts of capital and expertise. On the other hand, if you plan to operate solely through online channels, you may be able to skip the middleman and save hundreds of dollars. Think carefully about exactly what skills you possess and what you lack, and then select a venture that matches both criteria perfectly.
The coronavirus pandemic has been the most important event of our generation so far and will be remembered forever. But even before this global crisis hit us all, we were already living through one of the biggest economic crises since World War II. The Great Recession was just around the corner and many people lost their jobs at that time.
It may seem like now is not the right moment to start a new business venture because of the current situation. However, there are plenty of ways to make money during these times without actually having to leave the house. You just need to know what options are available to you. In this article, we explain how you can start an online business while staying at home and making some extra cash.
You might think that starting an online business requires lots of money, especially if you plan on selling products. However, there are several opportunities where you do not necessarily need to buy anything to get started. Here's what you should look out for when choosing which type of online business model suits you best.
Fulfillment services
If you're looking for a way to earn easy money from home, then consider setting up a drop-shipping service. Companies such as Amazon and eBay offer sellers the opportunity to sell directly to customers instead of going through third parties. As long as they fulfill orders within specified deadlines, they receive commission fees every time someone buys something. These commissions range between 10% and 30%, depending on the product. If you choose to work for companies like Amazon or eBay, you'll also need to pay taxes and other fees related to running your own business.
Web hosting
One option is to set up a website yourself using web hosting services. Websites typically require domain names (which usually cost $10-$30 per year) and hosting plans ($5 - $20 per month). Once you've purchased those, you're ready to go! There are numerous websites offering web hostings including Bluehost, Hostgator, DreamHost, iPage, GoDaddy, etc. Many of them provide tutorials and guides for beginners who wish to create their own site.
Catering
Another popular choice among entrepreneurs is catering businesses. It does not always involve cooking food, although chefs are often hired to cater events at weddings, birthdays, and conferences. Instead, entrepreneurs choose to prepare meals for large groups of people by purchasing ingredients and preparing dishes ahead of time. They simply take orders and deliver fresh foods to clients' homes. Depending on the size of your clientele, you could potentially earn thousands of dollars each week.
Photography
A lot of photographers use social media platforms such as Instagram to showcase their skills and attract potential clients. Some people prefer to focus more on creative projects rather than commercial photography, but both options are equally profitable. When working freelance, photographers charge anywhere between $50 and $500/hour. Since demand varies significantly throughout different seasons, you can expect to make much less income during winter months.
Other types of freelancing include translation, writing, designing, editing, and voiceovers. Freelancers can find gigs on Upwork, PeoplePerHour, and other similar sites.
Even though starting an online business doesn't come cheap, it is possible to do so without investing too much money upfront. For example, you can easily rent office space from various locations across the country and hire employees to help run your company. Alternatively, you can purchase used furniture and equipment to save costs. Finally, you can also lease servers and software to speed up operations. All of these expenses add up over time, but they allow you to avoid paying high startup fees.
There are countless resources available today to teach you everything about launching your business successfully. Online courses cover topics ranging from marketing strategies to accounting basics. To learn how to build your first website, check out YouTube channels like Howcast & Lynda.com. To gain access to digital tools and apps, sign up for Skillshare and Udemy. And lastly, you can join Facebook Groups dedicated to learning how to start your own online business.
In addition to training videos, forums and communities are another excellent source of information on how to start your own online business. Although many of these places aren't very active anymore due to COVID-19 restrictions, they still contain valuable content for anyone interested in entrepreneurship.
Of course! Even though you won't be able to enjoy the benefits of owning your own business overnight, you can begin earning profits immediately after signing up for certain programs. For instance, you don't need to invest any capital to participate in affiliate marketing campaigns. Affiliate marketers promote others' brands and earn revenue whenever someone clicks on their links and purchases items via their platform.
As long as you follow the rules correctly, you can make hundreds -- sometimes millions -- of dollars each month thanks to referral traffic alone. Other methods of generating passive income include blogging, creating ebooks, building membership sites, renting real estate properties, and more.
To learn how to earn money online legally, read our beginner's guide to affiliate marketing.
What is the best way to get started on my own without having any capital or credit card debt?
It's hard to believe now, but back then, starting your own company wasn't as easy as it sounds today. You needed money – lots of it.
"Startup cash" was what they called it back then. And if you didn’t have it, well…you could always ask family members, friends, investors, or loan sharks (yes!) to help out. Or you could borrow from your bank by applying for a personal loan.
But let me tell you something – these options are not available anymore! There isn't much startup funding left because everyone who had access to such funds got them already. So, unless you're lucky enough to inherit some money, you'll need to find other ways to fund your new venture.
Fortunately, there are plenty of alternatives available right now – like crowdfunding platforms, peer-to-peer lending sites, microloans, crowdsourcing websites, etc. These are the only viable solutions when it comes to getting started with your own business without having any money upfront. Here are several strategies that might work for you...
1. Crowdfunding Platforms
2. Peer-To-Peer Lending Sites
3. Microloan Programs
4. Social Media Campaigns & Influencer Marketing
5. Online Shopping Site Reviews
6. Affiliate Program Signups
7. YouTube Channel Creation / Video Content Promotion
8. Blogging/Website Building Services
9. Freelance Work Opportunities
10. Selling Products On Amazon or eBay
If you're thinking about starting up a new company this year, then chances are that one of the first questions on your mind will be "how do I get my business off the ground?" But if you've never started anything before, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by all the decisions involved. How much should you invest? What kind of marketing strategy should you employ? Where does your time go when you spend hours every day setting up accounts, writing orders and managing suppliers -- especially if you're not making any sales yet? And what happens next?
There's a lot to think through, so we asked some experts for their advice. You'll find out below exactly which types of businesses work well with minimal capital investment (and which ones require more) -- plus how to make sure they succeed once launched!
The answer here depends on who you ask. If you're looking at a traditional brick-and-mortar store, then yes, opening costs are likely going to eat into your budget pretty quickly. However, there are plenty of ways around this problem. For example, you could open a pop-up shop where customers pay only after they leave (so you don't need upfront cash). Or you could sell directly to individuals via Instagram instead of trying to set up a storefront.
But perhaps you'd prefer something even simpler: A website. In fact, just last month, over half of people surveyed said that they would rather buy products online than in stores. So, if you already know how to use WordPress, HTML5/CSS3 and other web development tools, then you might find yourself able to turn your ideas into reality very cheaply indeed. The key thing here though is to choose a niche market that has good potential growth. Otherwise, you may struggle to keep your site alive until enough visitors arrive to cover its running costs. [More]
You probably won't be surprised to learn that many entrepreneurs believe that having lots of experience is essential to success. After all, building a successful business requires years of hard graft and learning from mistakes. That being said, there are plenty of microbusinesses available today for those willing to put in the effort. Some of these include selling homemade goods like handcrafted jewellery or furniture, teaching classes or offering services such as graphic design or photography. Others include providing food delivery, dog walking, babysitting or courier services.
As long as you pick a service sector that's growing fast, you shouldn't face too many obstacles. Indeed, research suggests that women tend to outperform men in terms of income generation. Which means that if you focus on female clients, you stand a far better chance of succeeding.
At least some form of payment is almost certainly required to successfully run a business. Whether you accept physical currency or electronic transfers, however, doesn't really matter. With that in mind, let's take a look at five options that allow you to operate without ever needing to dip into your savings account.
1. Drop ship
Forget Amazon Prime: One of the quickest and simplest ways to establish a brand is by drop shipping. Here, you simply place orders for items that you own, send them out to various distributors across the world and wait until someone purchases them. Then, you invoice the customer and forward the funds onto yours. As soon as the order arrives, you're free to move on to another project.
2. Crowdfunding
Another option involves tapping into crowdfunding platforms. These enable you to raise funds from hundreds of investors interested in helping you to realise your dream. It's generally easier to secure funding using Kickstarter or Indiegogo than it is to win backing from banks. Plus, if you target a specific audience, you stand the greater chance of attracting backers who share your vision.
3. Freelancing
Many people now consider freelance work to be part of their job description. Why? Because it offers flexible working practices, high earning potential and low overhead. Of course, if you want to build a profitable side hustle that also provides financial security, you could always become a full-time freelancer. Many popular fields offer excellent opportunities for self employment, including accounting, software programming, IT support and editing.
4. Selling things on eBay & Etsy
With millions of listings, eBay and Etsy are two of the biggest names in ecommerce. They both offer great value for money, allowing you to list everything from vintage clothes to secondhand books to collectibles. Once you've done so, you can either charge buyers direct or arrange for them to purchase from third parties. Either way, you're guaranteed to earn substantial profits. In addition, because these sites provide protection against theft, fraud and accidental damage, you're unlikely to lose money unless you fail to deliver your product.
5. Renting space
Finally, renting office space is becoming increasingly affordable thanks to the rise in shared offices. By pooling resources to create a workspace, you can cut down significantly on startup costs. On top of that, you can usually hire staff members for a fraction of the cost that hiring employees would otherwise incur.
This is definitely less clear-cut than our previous question. There are plenty of companies that exist purely based on word-of-mouth recommendations alone. Meanwhile, others rely heavily on social media advertising. Still others thrive solely on referrals from satisfied customers.
So, while there isn't necessarily a simple solution to finding the right type of business model, there are certain traits that help determine whether a particular venture will be commercially viable. First, you must decide whether the idea appeals primarily to consumers or to small businesses. Next, you need to assess whether your target market shares common characteristics such as age, gender and location. Finally, you should carefully weigh up the amount of competition within each industry.
And finally, remember that no matter how appealing your concept sounds, nothing will change the fact that it takes time to grow a business.
Just follow our battle-tested guidelines and rake in the profits.